Comments on: Gut check time for Natshttp://natsinsider.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats/
News, analysis and commentary from someone who has covered the Washington Nationals since Day 1Tue, 03 Mar 2015 18:43:12 +0000hourly1http://wordpress.com/By: Anonymoushttp://natsinsider.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-17257
Mon, 13 Sep 2010 20:40:22 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats#comment-17257The Dunn discussion is really not that complicated. Over all he is app. app. 4 WAR which takes into account offense and defense; this should translate to app. $15 mil salary which means that we got good value for him. Generally speaking you don't sign 30 year old players to a 4 year contract because you can potentially end up with contracts like Carlos Lee and Vernon Wells. I really think that we should have traded him for Dan Hudson ( if that was really proposed) because then you win on 2 fronts; you get a major league ready pitcher (all scouting reports say at least a 2 or a 3) and you free up the money to use in the off season; heck you can resign Dunn if you are so inclined. The arguments that not signing Dunn will upset Zim are childish; I can think of several million reasons for him to get over it.
]]>By: Steve M.http://natsinsider.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-17246
Mon, 13 Sep 2010 19:32:03 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats#comment-17246Rizzo's biggest problem is the same one that bit Bowden which is playing favorites. Bowden has his Reds and Rizzo has anyone who he has recruited or signed.We all expect Rizzo to go after Brandon Webb which is risky but he has to come to grips with guys he brought here like Nyjer Morgan and Adam Kennedy and guys he had in Arizona like Mock. He has to get with reality with guys he likes on a personal level like Justin Maxwell and Willie Harris, and make tough decisions on coaches like McCatty and Eckstein.Rizzo's job is tough but thats why he gets paid the big bucks. There are enough smart people here that saw Day 1 the RF problems and the weak bench and Rizzo allowed that to happen. The vast improvement on this team was in the bullpen. Everything else is ending like it was last year. So Mr. Rizzo, what have you done for me lately?
]]>By: A DC Wonkhttp://natsinsider.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-17244
Mon, 13 Sep 2010 19:22:22 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats#comment-17244The Rizzo and Riggs and FO bashing here is ridiculous. Rizzo has tremendously improved the pitching (c'mon, guys, remember guys like Bacsik?), and even more so the bullpen. He also cleaned up the Dominican Republic mess, and personally got both Strasburg and Harper signed, going to the last minute (quite literally) with Bora$. The FO? Does anybody remember that they went way over slot this year on three players? Yuneski Maya, anyone? Does anyone here think that was a risk worth taking? Approximately 31 other teams are wishing they got him.As for Riggs — it's the mark of a professional that you dress down your players in private, not in public. Of *course* there's going to be a difference between what he says in a press conference ("the guys are giving a good effort") and what he says to them privately. Sheesh.As for the whole team — you have to keep perspective about just how bad our farm system was while MLB owned and decimated the team's foundation. It's taken years, but we finally have guys like Espinosa and Desmond coming up, and there will be more. But you can't change a team that both sucked *and* had no foundation with the snap of a finger, no matter how brilliant the front office is.What to make of Lannan and his terse comments about being removed — "this is the way the manager manages, and that's it?" What I make of that is that those are the words of a competitor. He wants to compete. Duh.And sticking Lannan in the list of selfish players? Where does that come from?Players tanking it in September? You know what? That happens from time to time. The Nats aren't the only team. The players tanked, and Riggs got in their face about it. That happens every year to every 5th place team in September.Do I like what's happening? Heck no. And I'd be p-o'd if I had spent money on a ticket yesterday, too. But that doesn't mean: the FO doesn't care about winning and that Rizzo is incompetent and that Riggs is an idiot and guys like Lannan and Pudge are selfish. There are 31 other teams all trying to improve, too. The Nats were dealt one of the worst hands in history, and it's taking a bit of time to climb out of it.
]]>By: sjm105http://natsinsider.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-17243
Mon, 13 Sep 2010 19:21:19 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats#comment-17243Liked the list but I would keep Gonzalez and I know Nyjer would not stand for it but he would be an upgrade from Willie Harris. Who knows, maybe next year we will not be using over 200 double switches and we can have a normal bench. Is Tim Foley still in the discussion, I am not familiar with Quade, can someone fill me in?Thanks to Feel Wood for an excellent analysis on Dunn and what is happening.I have gone back and forth on this and we have been horrible with Dunn, I might like to see what a + fielding first basemen would do for us.
]]>By: DCGuy7http://natsinsider.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-17242
Mon, 13 Sep 2010 19:11:35 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats#comment-17242N. Cognito's list is right on target. Couple other "pitchers" i'd throw in as well.
]]>By: Sunshine_Bobby_Carpenter_Is_Too_Pessimistic_For_Mehttp://natsinsider.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-17241
Mon, 13 Sep 2010 18:35:15 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats#comment-17241A new team goal: 300 losses in three years.We lost 205 losses last two years. With 19 left, we're 60-and-83. We have to go 7-and-12 the rest of the way to roll our 300 game.C'mon, Harris, Morgan, Nieves, Gonzo, Olsen (especially you, and that $100,000 per start contract you have), Kennedy (total stiff), you can do it.Actually with 12 of the 19 against ATL-PHIL, and four with HOU (actually playing well), that only leaves the final three with the Mets up in the air. And they just took two of three from us here.If we go 3-and-16 the rest of the way, that's 63-and-99. About right. 304 losses in three years. Take a bow, StanK.
]]>By: Sunshine_Bobby_Carpenter_Is_Too_Pessimistic_For_Mehttp://natsinsider.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-17240
Mon, 13 Sep 2010 18:30:16 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats#comment-17240N. Cognito said… Guys I wouldn't re-sign: Olsen Nieves Kennedy Gonzalez Harris Maxwell Mench Morgan That's a good start. I certainly would add Rick Eckstein to that list. A lot of motion, and no real results. He's obviously biding his time until a MLB manager's spot opens up (Here?). But the guy has been a .220 batting coach, that's for sure. And, honestly, McCatty doesn't rank much higher.Under the bus with them all!
]]>By: Sunderlandhttp://natsinsider.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-17239
Mon, 13 Sep 2010 18:21:01 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats#comment-17239Pilchard said… Don't see the Nats resigning Dunn. Rizzo wants to emphasize defense, and although Dunn has improved some at first, he is still lacking there. **************Just keep in mind, everything Rizzo says publicly and has leaked to the media is part of the negotiation. So this "emphasis on defense" is posturing. Where did it come from? (Un-named Nats sources?)Regardless of where it came from, it might be grounded in some legitimacy, but it really means nothing.Posture. Negotiate. 7 x 24.And this is not raggin' on Rizzo. It's tha nature of both sides of this business.
]]>By: Big Cathttp://natsinsider.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-17238
Mon, 13 Sep 2010 17:50:04 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats#comment-17238Harper_Roy…..wow, another vote for my boy Mike Quade. I think he would come in here and kick some butt. Be cheap too. Hmmmmmmm
]]>By: Dochttp://natsinsider.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-17237
Mon, 13 Sep 2010 17:48:44 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats#comment-17237I was wondering about the Morse/Harris switch in yesterday's game too. Was Morse still suffering from the minor injury reported a few games ago?
]]>By: Pilchardhttp://natsinsider.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-17236
Mon, 13 Sep 2010 17:40:27 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats#comment-17236Don't see the Nats resigning Dunn. Rizzo wants to emphasize defense, and although Dunn has improved some at first, he is still lacking there. Barring no interest in Dunn, which drives his asking price and length of contract down, Adam Dunn is nor coming back. Also, do not see the Nats firing Riggs at the end of the year. The organization is fairly cautious when it comes to changes, and the Lerners and Rizzo know that this team is at least 1 year away from legitmately contending. That said, barring a shockingly good year in 2011, Riggs will be gone after next season. Related to the Nats struggles, in the reverse standings, the Nats have now fallen to the 7th worst record in baseball, but only 3 games seperate the Nats, Royals, Indians and D-backs (even the O's are only 5 games behind now). Realize that this is little consolation, but the Nats are steadily climbing the draft board for 2011, with this late-season slide. Link to the reverse standings (the Pirates have essentially clinched the top pick next year):http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/reversestandings/
]]>By: Steve M.http://natsinsider.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-17235
Mon, 13 Sep 2010 17:39:31 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats#comment-17235Feel Wood, I was getting ready to comment on Ray Mitten's post, and could not have done a better job of responding then what you just wrote.It is a negotiation but hope it is a good faith negotiation on both sides, but like you said, Dunn's September production last year wasn't great and this year looks worse. Dunn isn't helping his own case going into a potential Free Agency.Do I still want him back? Yes, a 2 to 3 year deal will give the Nats time to hopefully develop or trade for Dunn's heir apparent.
]]>By: Steve M.http://natsinsider.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-17234
Mon, 13 Sep 2010 17:33:16 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats#comment-17234N. Cognito said… Guys I wouldn't re-sign:OlsenNievesKennedyGonzalezHarrisMaxwellMenchMorgan ++++++++++++++Can you scream this from the rooftops. I would say Gonzalez is the only name on the list I would reconsider and even though I can't stand Morgan, I would consider him as a bench player but definitely not a starter.I blame Rizzo for settling for mediocrity and 70 wins is going to be tough.
]]>By: Feel Woodhttp://natsinsider.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-17233
Mon, 13 Sep 2010 17:30:32 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats#comment-17233"1. Can someone please rationally explain why Rizzo continues to state that he wants to re-sign Dunn but nothing gets accomplished? Dunn has publically stated his demands, and they are, in the words of Ryan Zimmerman "a no brainer". This isn't doing the morale of the team any good."It's very simple. Dunn wants a four year contract (as he told Ladson last week) but no GM in his right mind is going to give him a four year deal – other than to be a DH. Rizzo wants Dunn, but not for four years. Two years ideally, maybe three. It's a classic contract standoff. Eventually one of the two sides will have to budge, but right now there's no incentive for either one to do anything. The triggering event will be when the season ends and Rizzo tenders a contract to Dunn, which I'm sure will be more than reasonable money-wise, but not for four years. Will Dunn accept, or will he take his chances that some other team will give him a four year deal? With his decline in offensive production for the second year in a row (last year he failed to reach 40 HR, and this year it looks like his HR total will drop even more – especially if like last year he basically shuts down in September) it's becoming increasingly unlikely that an AL team would give him four years to DH, much less an NL team giving him four years to play the field. Eventually Dunn and his agent will realize this, and Rizzo's offer will look much better to him.And BTW, while Zimmerman did say that re-signing Dunn would be a no-brainer, I'm pretty sure he was speaking of the concept of re-signing him, not to giving him a four year deal. That is definitely not a no-brainer.
]]>By: Harper_ROY_2012http://natsinsider.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-17232
Mon, 13 Sep 2010 17:21:49 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats#comment-17232Who else besides Pudge on the club is out to break any milestones? He wants to get 3,000 hits and now with Ramos he will get less AB's, that is why I put Pudge on the list.
]]>By: Golfersalhttp://natsinsider.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-17231
Mon, 13 Sep 2010 17:05:57 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats#comment-17231DCGuy7 saidWe are in club level, 208 row A.They are I think the best seats in the house, just inside third base. You can get me at Golfersal@aol.com I don't think am going to any of the Houston games and if they continue the slide won't bother to go to the Braves series. For those that say I am not a true fan, live in Leesburg and it's a pain to go to these games and fight the 1 and a half traffic.
]]>By: raymittenhttp://natsinsider.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-17230
Mon, 13 Sep 2010 17:02:32 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats#comment-17230Right now this team appears to be a mess. 1. Can someone please rationally explain why Rizzo continues to state that he wants to re-sign Dunn but nothing gets accomplished? Dunn has publically stated his demands, and they are, in the words of Ryan Zimmerman "a no brainer". This isn't doing the morale of the team any good. 2. I love Riggs, and I want him to be the manager. But its hard to reconcile his stated goals of insuring that players 'play the game the right way' and backing Nyjer Morgan. I can't help but think that Nyjer's antics have damaged the once cohesive clubhouse and polarized players on one side or the other, just as we've seen fans on this board argue back and forth about this. 3. What to make of Lannan and his terse comments about being removed — "this is the way the manager manages, and that's it?" 4. Do you think players are as sick of the seemingly pointless double switches such as the Morse/Harris one yesterday? I'm really more discouraged about this team right now than I've been in a long long time.
]]>By: Mark Zuckermanhttp://natsinsider.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-17229
Mon, 13 Sep 2010 16:30:05 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats#comment-17229Hey folks, I don't want to take away from the discussion going on here, but I wanted to let everyone know that one of my former colleagues from the Washington Times (Patrick Stevens) is taking a cue from yours truly and asking readers to help him continue to cover the Maryland Terrapins this season. If you're a Terps fan and value good independent coverage, please take a moment to check out Patrick's "D1scourse" site and help him out the same way you so generously helped me this season.
]]>By: Anonymoushttp://natsinsider.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-17228
Mon, 13 Sep 2010 16:27:37 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats#comment-17228why the Kennedy hate?
]]>By: N. Cognitohttp://natsinsider.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats/comment-page-1/#comment-17227
Mon, 13 Sep 2010 16:19:22 +0000http://natsinsider.wordpress.com/2010/09/13/gut-check-time-for-nats#comment-17227Where is Pudge's name on my list?
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